Farty McPooPants:Did Rutsey stay a part of the band in some capacity? He was the heart of it all in the beginning and it wasn't like he simply quit or had creative differences. Anybody know?

No, he didn't. I don't know what he did after he left the band immediately afterwards, but I know it had nothing to do with the band at all. Alex said in an interview once that John either ran a gym or was a bodybuilder or something up in Canada. I'm not exactly sure what, but it had something to do with athletics. He died in 2008.

Thanks subby - I needed to know this. Been rocking out for the last hour or so. Working Man, Finding My Way, 2112, La Villa Strangiato, Trees, Freewill, Spirit of Radio. Gonna finish out with The Camera Eye starting...now!

Ryker's Peninsula:The first album I ever had was Exit... Stage Left.The second live concert I ever saw was their Grace Under Pressure tour.They were dead to me after listening to Power Windows.

That's too bad - I went through a long phase away from their music but am glad I came back. Although most of their best music was put out by that time, they have remained one of the best concert tours going. I love to watch them live - yes it is a reliving of my childhood and teens in many ways, but these guys are still so damned talented and tight in concert. You are missing out my friend.

Keywork99:Farty McPooPants: Did Rutsey stay a part of the band in some capacity? He was the heart of it all in the beginning and it wasn't like he simply quit or had creative differences. Anybody know?

No, he didn't. I don't know what he did after he left the band immediately afterwards, but I know it had nothing to do with the band at all. Alex said in an interview once that John either ran a gym or was a bodybuilder or something up in Canada. I'm not exactly sure what, but it had something to do with athletics. He died in 2008.

That makes no sense. He had diabetes so bad that he couldn't tour and they had to kick him out of the band. But then became a body builder?

Sounds like Geddy and Alex were convinced by the record label to ditch him.

Really don't understand all the Rush hate - they're a really good band. Saw their Hold Your Fire show in Chicago in '87 or so - great sound, great show all around. The concert was amusing because there were about 20,000 'air-drummers' in the audience. But the drums are the best part of that band, hands down.

TedCruz'sCrazyDad:Keywork99: Farty McPooPants: Did Rutsey stay a part of the band in some capacity? He was the heart of it all in the beginning and it wasn't like he simply quit or had creative differences. Anybody know?

No, he didn't. I don't know what he did after he left the band immediately afterwards, but I know it had nothing to do with the band at all. Alex said in an interview once that John either ran a gym or was a bodybuilder or something up in Canada. I'm not exactly sure what, but it had something to do with athletics. He died in 2008.

That makes no sense. He had diabetes so bad that he couldn't tour and they had to kick him out of the band. But then became a body builder?

Sounds like Geddy and Alex were convinced by the record label to ditch him.

Pete Best - is that you?

According to Wiki, it was a combination of diabetes, drinking, and the inevitable "musical differences" that led to his departure/dismissal from the band.

RectalDamage:Rush is horrible. They are a band for adolescent boys I.T. dorks and Excel jockeys that mistake complexity for musicianship.

FTFY

I've never seen a band draw a specific type of fanbase the way Rush does. You could probably swap a Rush audience with a "Dr. Who" convention and see no appreciable difference.

Anyone calling them the 'best musicians in the world' should really get a season pass to the metro orchestra in the area. The added bonus is that you'll be hearing music that wont be forgotten in 50 years.

puckrock2000:TedCruz'sCrazyDad: Keywork99: Farty McPooPants: Did Rutsey stay a part of the band in some capacity? He was the heart of it all in the beginning and it wasn't like he simply quit or had creative differences. Anybody know?

No, he didn't. I don't know what he did after he left the band immediately afterwards, but I know it had nothing to do with the band at all. Alex said in an interview once that John either ran a gym or was a bodybuilder or something up in Canada. I'm not exactly sure what, but it had something to do with athletics. He died in 2008.

That makes no sense. He had diabetes so bad that he couldn't tour and they had to kick him out of the band. But then became a body builder?

Sounds like Geddy and Alex were convinced by the record label to ditch him.

Pete Best - is that you?

According to Wiki, it was a combination of diabetes, drinking, and the inevitable "musical differences" that led to his departure/dismissal from the band.

Musical differences? Geddy has never written a song has he? I thought Neil wrote everything?